Media Archive 2012-2014

A sample of media articles about The Roberta Bondar Foundation, its educational programs and activities along with some of Dr Bondar’s public appearances that reference The Foundation from 2012 to 2014:

Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar, centre, judges the first ever Dark Sky Festival robot building challenge. Bondar was looking for robots that were aesthetically pleasing and could completed a series of tasks. She is seen here with the young engineers.Photo: Dali Carmichael

From January 24 to June 15 2014, Calgary’s TELUS Spark the new science centre hosts The Roberta Bondar Foundation’s Travelling Exhibition and Learning Experience on the theme of Biodiversity and Extinction: “Within the Landscape ~ Art Respecting Life”
The opening also coincided with the anniversary of Dr. Bondar’s flight aboard the First International Microgravity Laboratory, as the world’s first neurologist in space. Watch BT Calgary’s Tara Slone interview Dr. Roberta Bondar during this special January week.

On the Move in the Mara

KENYA (August 19, 2013)

Dr. Roberta Bondar and trusty Nikon at work in Kenya’s Masai Mara.

Dr. Bondar, pictured here, enhanced The Foundation’s international programs and linkages during this year’s Kenya project. Representatives from The Foundation met with scientists from the Kenya Wildlife Services and with UNEP representatives in Nairobi to discuss areas of mutual interest. Additionally, they shared environmental learning materials developed for Kenyan students attending a number of schools, encouraging them to continue their studies. Dr. Bondar presented inspiring addresses to over 400 girls and their mentors while visiting Kenya. In partnership with The Hoopers Africa Trust, she participated as Honorary Patron with Hooper Trustees in a visit to monitor quality assurance and practices related to the Trust’s program in the Mara.

While in the country, Dr. Bondar continued capturing photographs on biodiversity using a Nikon D800 that will be added to the Foundation’s Travelling Exhibition and Learning Experience.

– 30 –

Exciting New Partnership with Nikon Canada

Toronto, ON (August 16, 2013)

Our newest partner in The Foundation’s growing network of sponsors is Nikon Canada Inc. With their support we have been able to expand the national scope of the 2013 Summer Camp Bondar Challenge.

“The summer camp setting helps youth unplug for a few weeks and digital photography allows them to connect with nature in a meaningful way,” said Dr. Roberta Bondar. “We had a number of camps coast to coast where participants didn’t have access to digital cameras and Nikon’s support meant we could create a camera loan program. It made all the difference in reaching more than 4,000 youth this summer.”

This unique environmental photography program fuses photographic art with science. Capturing an image in a summer camp environment that relates to some aspect of biodiversity, participants interpret the artistic and scientific components of the photographs they have taken, challenging their imagination and creativity.

The Bondar Challenge creates an emotional bond between the natural world and the individual that will become part of the personal heritage of campers and leaders. It is a gateway to understanding, inquisitiveness and a desire to have a positive impact on our attitude and behaviours toward nature.

The Roberta Bondar Foundation thanks Mike Robertson and Nikon Canada for their leadership and support for youth who will make a difference to our future.

– 30 –

Dr. Roberta Bondar was the guest speaker at the 4-H Canada 100th Anniversary Gala held on May 30. As an astronaut, physician, scientist, photographer, author and, proud Aggie, Dr. Bondar presented her view from space to emphasize the importance of agricultural research and technology in being able to feed a growing planet with ever-decreasing arable land.

Four high school students from Paul William Kaeser High School, Fort Smith, NWT, were honoured for pictures they took during the Bondar Challenge, a photography program of The Roberta Bondar Foundation. The Challenge was offered at Sweetgrass Station in the Alberta section of Wood Buffalo National Park, the first national park to host the Roberta Bondar Challenge.
Here are the Winning Views of Nature.

Northern News Services Online 13-0603

May 28, 2013. Steve Anthony interview of Dr. Bondar about The Foundation on CP24.

The Walrus Foundation convened nine prominent Torontonians — Midnight’s Children director Deepha Mehta, CBC’s Matt Galloway, chef Jamie Kennedy, and astronaut Dr. Roberta Bondar among them — and gave them each seven minutes to talk about one aspect of “the art of the city.” Here are Dr. Roberta Bondar, Jamie Kennedy, and others discussing The Art of the City at the latest Walrus Talk.

To encourage viewing the environment through a camera lens, Dr. Roberta Bondar took her Bondar Challenge to Wood Buffalo National Park’s Sweetgrass Station where she paid a surprise visit to a campout of NWT high school students. The Bondar Challenge comes to Sweetgrass!

The Medical Post features some of The Roberta Bondar Foundation’s education initiatives, including the Travelling Exhibition and Learning Experience as well as the Bondar Challenge that is presently in pilot programs this summer. Developing a Passion for Nature.

In Our Planet; the magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme, the world’s first neurologist in space, Dr Roberta Bondar, describes how her new foundation aspires to achieve environmental learning through the art of photography. The Roberta Bondar Foundation aims in Our Planet Magazine.

(Page 34-35)

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